Legends | A Novice Who Set National Records

This feature appears in the July ‘17 issue of NRA America’s 1st Freedom, one of the official journals of the National Rifle Association.

Giles W. Bassett only shot in formal matches in 1933, but this Springfield, Mass., member of the U.S. Revolver Association set three national competitive shooting records in the National Indoor Championship at East Longmeadow, Mass., with less than a year’s experience under his belt. Using both a Harrington & Richardson single-shot pistol and an H&R Sportsman revolver he had owned for just one week, Bassett tied the National Novice Pistol record, won three first-place National Awards, and placed second in the expert division, firing against all the U.S. champions present.

Recognized by Remington and the Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. for his achievements in April 1933, the novice shooter never again took to the firing line to formally compete. His grandson recently donated these two .22 rimfire handguns and a selection of Bassett’s USRA shooting medals to the National Firearms Museum collection.

The NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.; each have fine selections of historic arms on display. Admission to each is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit nramuseums.com, phone (703) 267-1600 or email nfmstaff@nrahq.org.